Senior Procurement Manager - Plants

Posted 2 hours 1 minute ago by MM Flowers Ltd

Permanent
Full Time
Transport & Logistics Jobs
Cambridgeshire, Alconbury, United Kingdom, PE284
Job Description

Location: Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon, PE28 4YA
Hours: 40 hours per week, usually Monday-Friday
Reporting to: Group Procurement Director
Travel: Regular UK and international travel to growers, suppliers, and sourcing regions

Bring your horticultural expertise and commercial experience to MM Flowers and help shape the future of our Plants category.

We're looking for a Senior Plants Procurement Manager to lead our sourcing and procurement strategy for plants and bulbs, building strong grower partnerships and ensuring we have the quality, availability, and value our customers need.

This is a senior role combining strategic procurement with hands on supplier management. You'll work closely with colleagues across Commercial, NPD, Technical, Planning, Operations, and Supply Chain to turn customer requirements into effective sourcing and growing plans.

About the role

You'll take ownership of sourcing strategies that meet today's requirements while securing supply for the future. Developing long term relationships with growers will be central to your success, alongside the ability to balance cost, quality, availability, and risk within a seasonal, perishable supply chain.

From negotiating supply programmes and monitoring crop development to identifying new varieties and preparing for seasonal peaks, you'll play a key role in supporting category growth and delivering for our customers.

What you'll be doing

Developing and delivering procurement strategies for plants and bulbs, including short, medium, and long term sourcing plans.

Building relationships with growers and suppliers across the UK, Europe, and wider international sourcing regions.

Leading negotiations on pricing, volumes, commercial terms, and supply programmes.

Working with Commercial and Planning teams to translate forecasts into supplier commitments, crop plans, and product availability.

Securing grower capacity for seasonal peaks and promotions, identifying supply risks early, and developing contingency plans.

Partnering with NPD and Commercial teams to explore new growers, varieties, formats, and product opportunities.

Working with Technical and Quality teams to improve supplier performance, product quality, shelf life, and customer experience.

Monitoring procurement performance across cost, availability, quality, waste, and service, using data to guide improvements.

Providing procurement leadership and supporting the development of team members where applicable.

What we're looking for

You'll be an experienced procurement or buying professional with strong horticultural knowledge and a commercially focused approach. You'll understand the importance of collaborative grower relationships and be confident making decisions in a changing, seasonal market.

You'll bring:

Significant procurement or buying experience within plants, horticulture, fresh produce, FMCG, or another fast paced, seasonal environment.

Strong understanding of plant and/or bulb sourcing, growing cycles, and horticultural supply chains.

Proven experience managing strategic grower and supplier relationships.

Strong negotiation skills, including experience managing pricing, volumes, and supply agreements.

Experience translating customer forecasts and programmes into practical procurement and supplier plans.

Commercial and financial understanding, with the ability to assess cost drivers and identify opportunities to improve value.

Excellent analytical, problem solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Experience working collaboratively across commercial and operational teams.

Willingness to travel regularly within the UK and internationally, with flexibility to support seasonal peaks, supplier visits, and business requirements.

Knowledge of the UK and European plants and bulbs supply base, experience sourcing for major grocery or retail customers, and an understanding of responsible horticultural sourcing would be advantageous. Experience developing procurement colleagues and using ERP, forecasting, or procurement systems would also be valuable.

Working at MM Flowers

This role offers the opportunity to influence our Plants procurement strategy, build lasting grower partnerships, and contribute directly to category growth.

Our values-Trusted, Passionate, Dynamic, and Work Together-guide how we work with colleagues, growers, suppliers, and customers. We're looking for someone who shares these values and brings a proactive approach to improving performance and delivering long term value.

If you're ready to bring your plants procurement expertise to MM Flowers, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today.